Toilet protective overlay device assembly

ABSTRACT

A toilet protective overlay device assembly, comprising a body for fitting over a toilet bowl rim, sized to the approximate dimensions of the outer edge of the rim to overlap the rim, the body having a top side and a bottom side. The body includes plurality of openings to receive a clamp having a non-mar surface in contact with the rim, with a plurality of clamps positioned individually through the openings to secure the body to the toilet rim, and clamps able to move within the openings to adjust the fit of the body on the rim. A flexible hose is connected so as to provide a conduit through an opening in the body, with the conduit passing from the top of the body past the bottom of the body, with a portion of the flexible hose inserted into a toilet fixture trap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of plumbing, more particularly to a protective overlay device to cover a porcelain toilet and protect the toilet during use of a snake to unclog a clogged toilet.

2. Description of Related Art

Toilet systems occasionally become clog and require the services of a plumber to unclog the toilet and clear a blockage. Plumber snakes are often used to unclog the toilet. A plumber snake is a long flexible rod or cable usually made of steel that is used to free clogged pipes and typically involves inserting the snake into a clogged pipe and running the snake into the pipe till it impact against the clog. Often, the snake is rotated to auger into and break up the clog. While at times, such clogs can be easily removed using a plumber snake, often times such clogs occur deeper into the sewage pipe and become more difficult to remove.

In a typical unclogging process under the prior art, the first step to unclogging the toilet is to plunge the toilet using a toilet plunger. The next step is then to try inserting a snake and auger the toilet pipe; however, this step is limited to a seven foot cable and thus can only reach into a seven-foot section of the sewage pipe. This is because going any further into the sewage pipe risk damage to the porcelain toilet.

If the clog is located deeper than seven feet, then the toilet must be removed. The toilet bowl and tank must first be drained with a shop vacuum. Then the toilet must be pulled or an access clean out (rarely available). To remove the toilet, the plumber cuts away the caulk on the base and floor and turn off the water at the shut off valve to the toilet. Damage can occur to the floor from the toilet removal and water leaks. There is also the possibility of breaking the toilet when removing or resetting the toilet, which includes replacement of the wax rings, bolts, and flange. Then after removing the toilet, the toilet must be snaked and augered and then resetting the toilet, which includes replacement of all parts and may even require replacement of the toilet if it is broken.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art a system, which will facilitate a simpler method of unclogging a toilet by safely using a snake and auger a clog deeper than seven feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a toilet protective overlay device assembly comprises a body fitting over a toilet bowl rim, sized to the approximate dimensions of the outer edge of the rim to overlap the rim, the body having a top side and a bottom side. The body including a plurality of clamp openings to receive a clamp having a non-mar surface in contact with the rim, with a plurality of clamps positioned individually through the clamp openings to secure the body to the toilet rim, with the clamps able to move within the clamp openings to adjust the fit of the body on the rim. A flexible hose connected so as to provide a conduit through a first opening in the body, with the conduit passing from the top of the body past the bottom of the body, with a portion of the flexible hose inserted into a toilet fixture trap.

In an embodiment, the toilet protective overlay device assembly further comprised of a rigid section of pipe attached to the top side of the body proximate to the first opening, with a transition hose interposed between the pipe and the flexible hose so as to attach to the rigid section of pipe. The transition hose passes through the first opening from the top of the body to the bottom of the body, with the flexible hose connected to the transition hose. The assembled rigid section of pipe, transition hose, and flexible hose create the conduit running from the top side into the toilet trap.

In an embodiment, the toilet protective overlay device assembly further comprises a snake cable inserted through the conduit and moved beyond the toilet trap into the sewage line.

In an embodiment, the body is made from approximately ¾″ thick poly or phenolic board of rigid construction roughly in the shape of a toilet bowl.

In an embodiment, the toilet protective overlay device assembly further comprises a second opening in the body positioned to view an entrance to the toilet fixture trap.

In an embodiment, the transition hose includes an approximate 45° bend.

In an embodiment, the transition hose and the section of rigid pipe comprise PVC pipe.

In an embodiment, the toilet protective overlay device assembly further comprises a connection between the rigid section of pipe and the flexible hose comprising stainless steel clamps.

In an embodiment, the toilet protective overlay device assembly comprises a connection between the rigid section of pipe and the flexible hose comprised of a threaded connection.

In an embodiment, the clamp openings comprise a slot and said individual clamps can slide along the slot to adjust the fit of the body to the toilet rim.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the toilet protection overlay, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the toilet protection overlay device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the toilet protection overlay device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the toilet protection overlay device mounted on a toilet, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective side, cutaway view of the toilet protection overlay device mounted on a toilet with a snake in place, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the top view of the toilet protective overlay device assembly 100 can include a body 105 made of approximately ¾″ thick poly or phenolic board of rigid construction roughly in the shape of a toilet bowl with a base about 13″ wide. The body 105 can be designed to provide an overlap over the rim of a toilet to protect the rim. The body 105 can include slots 110 cut through the body 105 that can receive clamps 115, and each of the clamps 115 can have a non-mar, plastic gripping construction. A typical configuration for the body can use four clamps 115 to secure the body 105 to a toilet bowl rim, with clamps 115 fitting through the slots 110. Each of clamp 115 can slide along slots 110 so as to adjust the fit of the body 105 to the rim.

A circular hose hole 120 about 2¾″ in diameter can be cut in the body 105 positioned near the end of the body 105 opposite from the toilet drain. A circular observation hole about 6¾″ that can facilitate carrying can be cut in the body 105 positioned near the base of the body 105.

The toilet protective overlay device assembly 100 can include a hose assembly comprised of an about 1½″ diameter PVC conduit pipe 135 that can taper down to about 1½″ diameter and can be mated to a rigid hose section 139 about 1½″ in diameter that can then be mated to a flexible hose 18″ to 20″ long. Rigid hose 139 can be made from a section of thick rubber hosing with some degree of flexibility so as to fit down through opening 120, and in that sense can be referred to as transition hose 139. Stainless steel hose clamps 145 can be used to secure the connection between the transition hose 139 and PVC conduit pipe 135, and the stainless steel clamps 145 can be further utilized to secure the PVC conduit pipe 135 and transition hose 139 to the body 105.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the bottom view of the toilet protective overlay device assembly 200 includes an additional stainless steel hose clamp 245 that can be used to connect transition hose 139 to flexible hose 140. Slots 246 can receive stainless steel hose clamps 145 to provide a friction fit reinforced by glue securing the PVC conduit pipe 135 to the body 105 as the transition hose 139 passes through hose hole 120. Slots 110 cut through the body 105 can receive clamps 115, and each of the clamps 115 can have a non-mar, plastic gripping construction to clamp to toilet rim. Observation hole 130 can be used to properly position flexible hose 140 into the toilet trap and provides a view of the entrance to the toilet trap. The connected rigid PVC pipe 135, transition hose 139, and flexible hose 140 form a conduit leading from top of body 105 into a toilet trap. Transition hose 139 can be made from rubber hosing or can be formed from a section of bent PVC pipe.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the side view of the toilet protective overlay device assembly 300 shows additional details. The adjustable clamp 115 as depicted includes a clamp riser 316 which can facilitate opening or closing clamp 115, with handle 317 and locking trigger 318 able to lock the clamp 115 in a closed position, and in some embodiments, handle 317 and locking trigger 318 can tighten the clamp 115 in position. Clamp jaws 320 can include a non-marring surface or pads, such as plastic, rubber, neoprene, or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, body 105 can include counter-sinked slots 245 for receiving stainless steel hose clamps 145. In other embodiments, the stainless steel hose clamps 145 can be molded into board 105 to become structurally integrated with board 105. Flexible plastic tubing 140 includes distal portion 341 for extending into the toilet fixture trap (not shown). As further shown, transition hose 139 can include an angle bend in its configuration providing an approximate 45° angle of bend to connect to flexible plastic tubing 140. Further, as noted, transition hose 139 can be made from bent PVC pipe. so rather than clamps 145 connecting transition hose 139 and conduit pipe 135, the transition hose 139 and conduit pipe can be connected using PVC joint sealant and/or threaded connectors.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a toilet with an embodiment of the toilet protective overlay device assembly 400 installed. PVC conduit pipe 135 is attached in place to board 105 by hose clamps 145, which further connects to flexible hose 140, which runs down into the toilet bowl 410. Flexible hose 140 enters into the plumbing system by toilet fixture trap 411. Clamps 115 secure body 105 to the toilet 406.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective side, cutaway view 500 of the toilet protection overlay device mounted on a toilet 406 with a snake 550 in place. Body 105 is secured to the toilet 406. Flexible hose 140 enters into the internal piping of toilet 406 at point 416. Without the flexible hose protecting the surface, a snake 550 can often scratch or chip this area of an unprotected toilet 406. However, flexible hose 140 protects this area as well as the rest of toilet 406 as snake 550 is inserted down to clog 551. Snake 550 can be rotated to auger into clog 550 and unclog the plumbing line. A 50 foot K50 snake can be easily run into the plumbing system to reach clog 551 without the necessity of removing and then reinstalling the toilet 406.

In use, the toilet protection overlay device attaches to the bowl of a toilet using clamps, which can be adjusted via the slots 110 to fit upon any manufactured toilet. The flexible hose 140, or a flexible tube 140 (“tube” and “hose” being used interchangeably herein), attached to the device extends into the trap of the toilet allowing an inserted snake cable 550 to move freely with no ability to impact and rub against the porcelain and scratching or chipping the surface. While using a K50 sectional cable 550, the device allows for getting into the sewage system to reach and remove a clog 551 deep inside the plumbing without removing the toilet. This saves time, labor, and the liability associated with removing the toilet to reach a clog further down the waste line.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A toilet protective overlay device assembly, comprising: a body for fitting over a toilet bowl rim, sized to the approximate dimensions of the outer edge of the rim to overlap the rim, the body having a top side and a bottom side; said body including a plurality of clamp openings to receive a clamp having a non-mar surface in contact with the rim, with a plurality of clamps positioned individually through the clamp openings to secure the body to the toilet rim, with the clamps able to move within the clamp openings to adjust the fit of the body on the rim; and a flexible hose connected so as to provide a conduit through a first opening in the body, with the conduit passing from the top of the body past the bottom of the body, with a portion of the flexible hose inserted into a toilet fixture trap.
 2. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a rigid section of pipe attached to the top side of the body proximate to the first opening, with a transition hose interposed between the pipe and the flexible hose so as to attach to the rigid section of pipe; and the transition hose passing through the first opening from the top of the body to the bottom of the body, with the flexible hose connected to the transition hose; wherein the assembled rigid section of pipe, transition hose, and flexible hose create the conduit running from the top side into the toilet trap.
 3. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a snake cable inserted through the conduit and moved beyond the toilet trap into the sewage line.
 4. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises approximately ¾″ thick poly or phenolic board of rigid construction roughly in the shape of a toilet bowl.
 5. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second opening in the body positioned to view an entrance to the toilet fixture trap.
 6. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 2, wherein the transition hose includes an approximate 45° bend.
 7. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 6, wherein the transition hose and the section of rigid pipe comprise PVC pipe.
 8. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a connection between the rigid section of pipe and the flexible hose comprises stainless steel clamps.
 9. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a connection between the rigid section of pipe and the flexible hose comprises a threaded connection.
 10. The toilet protective overlay device assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp openings comprise a slot and said individual clamps can slide along the slot to adjust the fit of the body to the toilet rim. 